Keyboard Only

What is it for?

Keyboard only is a method for navigating the web using just a keyboard (not using the mouse at all). Many people with disabilities navigate using only the keyboard, but some users without disabilities also navigate using the keyboard for speed and efficiency.

Many people navigate using their keyboard only, but it's especially important for the following people:

• People with motor skills disabilities
• People who struggle with fine motor control
• People with tremors
• People with little to no use of their hands (or no hands at all)
• People with visual impairments

How to support it

Make sure that all interactive elements (buttons, links, etc.) can be navigated to using the keyboard, and that all interactivity still functions as expected. The focus should also be clear: if your focus is on a button, can you tell that's where your focus is just by looking?

To test keyboard accessibility:

1. On page load, don't click anywhere. If you've already clicked, click in the top left corner of the page
2. Press Tab to tab through the page
3. Shift + Tab will tab backward
4. Arrow keys move within radio groups, menus and tabs
5. Enter activates links and buttons
6. By default, Space activates buttons and checkboxes. When nothing that takes Space input is focused, it scrolls the page

Test keyboard accessibility on mobile devices as well, as users with disabilities often use an external keyboard with phones and tablets.

Useful links

• WebAIM: Keyboard accessibility (external site)
• MDN: Keyboard accessible (external site)
• How to Enhance Accessibility with Keyboard-only Navigation (external site)